NAWOJ FCT Seeks Women Journalists Training from Chinese Embassy

• NAWOJ FCT is hoping to find training and capacity-building opportunities in China for its members
• The association is looking for ways to strengthen its relationship with the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Nigeria

In efforts to further enhance the synergy between the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Nigeria, the association seeks to explore further capacity building and training of members in China.

This was raised during a courtesy call on the Chinese Embassy in Abuja by a NAWOJ FCT delegation led by the Chapter’s Chairperson, Bassey Ita-Ikpang.

However, Bassey mentioned that “the association is also interested in programs that intend to develop the professional capacity of female journalists, particularly in the areas of media development, exchange, and empowerment.”

She further asserted that “the NAWOJ FCT is considering partnerships in the areas of media development, technology/digital inclusion, innovation, public communication, and development journalism, among others; this is because these areas are relevant in improving the quality of reporting, as well as advocacy by women journalists.”

She said that the requested inclusion is that of 20 NAWOJ FCT members in training and fellowships in China, in an effort to acquaint participants with best practices in other countries and enhance women’s rights advocacy and education for girls and community health.

Bassey also spoke of the activities of the chapter concerning professional training and advocacy, such as those involving the welfare of mothers, children, and infants, as well as women's rights, and the education of the girl child, among others.

 “NAWOJ is a professional and non-governmental organization whose aims centre on ethical journalism and gender equity and the advancement of national development,” Bassey said

According to her, NAWOJ FCT has previously partnered with some of the government ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as some local and international development organizations in advocacy campaigns, professional training, among other community engagement initiatives.

The areas of support that the chairperson of NAWOJ FCT mentioned to the Chinese Embassy when they visited include media engagement, media coverage of initiatives that the Chinese Embassy supports through media platforms of NAWOJ, outreach to women and youths through media platforms, among other areas.

To address these concerns, the Counselor Officer for the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria, Dong Hairong, said that China has a good relationship with the media in Nigeria, adding that China is interested in cooperating with NAWOJ FCT to establish areas for possible cooperation.

She added that China had planned empowerment programs to support about 50,000 people within multiple countries in the next five years with an emphasis on training and capacity development.